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Liberal Democrats have lashed out at Wokingham Borough Council, accusing the authority of attempting to offload blame for an unpopular Government policy on their party.

The borough council sent out a press release on Friday to explain changes to policy ‘following Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s announcement on planning rules’.

It was released two days after campaigning started for a Wokingham Town Council by-election.

Wokingham’s Lib Dems say the reporting of the changes, that relax the rules on planning permission for home extensions, violated the council’s requirement to be politically neutral.

Councillor Prue Bray, leader of Wokingham’s Lib Dems, said: “For the council to solely blame Nick Clegg for something which is likely to be unpopular is not acceptable.

“The decision to relax the rules is a decision of the Coalition Government, mainly driven by the Chancellor.

“The Conservatives are at least as responsible for it as the Liberal Democrats – in fact more, as they have the majority of the cabinet and Eric Pickles, a Conservative, is responsible for planning policy.

“I am deeply concerned that the council is publishing material that appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party, something explicitly forbidden by law during an election. Do the Conservatives think they can just ignore the law?”

The new planning rules allow a limited period for people to be allowed to build larger extensions on houses – up to 8m long for detached homes and 6m for others – without planning permission.

They also propose relaxing rules on shops expanding and developments having to include affordable housing.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for planning and transportation, said: “We welcome initiatives to boost the economy and recognise the importance of this. We are seeking clarification as to what the changes are and how these will be applied.

“Wokingham Borough Council would like to avoid any misunderstandings to residents by making it clear that this temporary relaxation is not available yet.

“The changes do not apply yet and to avoid confusion we will let people know more as soon as we are made aware of these proposals.”

The Lib Dems say the press release came despite notice sent to officers that there was a greater than usual need for political neutrality during the period of a by-election for Wokingham Town Council which started on Wednesday, September 5.

A council spokeswoman said: “The purpose of this press release was to warn the borough’s residents not to rush ahead before changes to planning regulations had been put in place by the government.

“We wanted to avoid any misunderstandings and subsequent disappointments to them by making it clear that this temporary relaxation is not available yet.

“As with all our news releases and statements no political bias was intended and this release was based on fact. We do not believe that we have breached purdah.”